A Theology That Cannot Be Lived Is No Theology At All

Pastor Ray Ortlund writes about having a charitable Christian attitude regardless of where your convictions are regarding secondary doctrinal issues:

My Reformed friend, can you move among other Christian groups and really enjoy them? Do you admire them? Even if you disagree with them in some ways, do you learn from them? What is the emotional tilt of your heart – toward them or away from them? If your Reformed theology has morphed functionally into Galatian sociology, the remedy is not to abandon your Reformed theology. The remedy is to take your Reformed theology to a deeper level. Let it reduce you to Jesus only. Let it humble you. Let this gracious doctrine make you a fun person to be around. The proof that we are Reformed will be all the wonderful Christians we discover around us who are not Reformed. Amazing people. Heroic people. Blood-bought people. People with whom we are eternally one – in Christ alone.

Some years ago I heard a preacher say "A theology that cannot be lived out among others and that does not point people to Christ is no theology at all." This is my foremost conviction when studying and discussing theology with my Christian brothers and sisters. If my attitude does not demonstrate the love that Christ has demonstrated to me, then "my" theology becomes null and void.

The sole purpose of our apologetic as Christians is to "make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15 ESV, emphasis added). If the first word that jumps out of that verse to you is "defense" (apologia), then I would lovingly exhort you to reexamine your motives for engaging in apologetics. If your manner of conversation with other believers is so negative and divisive that it draws their attention to you rather than to Christ, STOP RIGHT THERE! You are doing more harm to the Gospel with each divisive and angry word.

However, if the first words in this verse that jump out at you are hope, gentleness and respect (I even highlighted them to make it easy for you....you can thank me later!), then it should be clear to you that the only way we can display the hope that God has given us is through gentleness and respect. This is true regardless of whether you are relating to believers and nonbelievers alike. This is no more true than it is when we proclaim the Gospel to nonbelievers. In a non confrontational postmodern world filled with hate mongering terrorist religious groups, it is easier now than ever for argumentative, cranky, negative Christians to be marginalized in the minds of nonbelievers.

This is also true about proclaiming Gospel to believers. You do realize that we are to proclaim the Gospel to believers, don't you? Paul did. "So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome." (Romans 1:15 ESV). Why would Paul feel the need to proclaim the Gospel to those who had already believed? He answers that in verse 16: "for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes".

So how do we proclaim the Gospel to our believing brothers and sisters? By letting them see Christ alone in you and through you. By living Christ in front of them as both an example and an encouragement. By wanting the same things for their lives that God has gracious given to you - grace, joy, love, contentment, etc. If your theology is truly given to you by God by emerging from the pages of Scripture, the it will humble you. It will reduce you to Jesus only. It will make you a fun person to be around. It will give you a desire to get to know others intimately regardless of their understanding and convictions about secondary doctrines and matters of conscience.